Celtics open Orlando Pro Summer League on Saturday

Friday

Jul 4, 2014 at 4:18 PMJul 4, 2014 at 4:23 PM

The Celtics will play five games in seven days, starting with an 11 a.m. matchup with the Miami Heat. First-round pick Marcus Smart is expected to get a lot of playing time while another first-round selection, James Young, has been slowed with a neck injury.

Jim Fenton The Enterprise @JFenton_ent

WALTHAM – As NBA trade rumors fly and free-agent negotiations take place, the Celtics have some on-the-court business on the agenda.

The team will participate in the Orlando Pro Summer League, playing five games over seven days with a 13-man roster.

The Celtics open this morning when they face the Miami Heat at 11 a.m. (TV: Comcast SportsNet).

Four players who were with the Celtics last season – Kelly Olynyk, Phil Pressey, Chris Babb and Chris Johnson – will be playing along with Marcus Smart, the sixth pick in last month’s draft.

James Young, who was drafted No. 17, is with the team but whether he participates is up in the air due to a neck injury suffered in a recent car accident.

“We want to try to introduce our draft picks and also all the free agents and the returning players into our philosophy and our style of play,’’ said Jay Larranaga, the Celtics assistant coach who will run the team in Florida. “Just get them integrated in our culture what coach (Brad) Stevens started last season and what we want to continue throughout the summer.

“We’re going to spend a lot of time together. They’ll learn about us and we’ll learn about them and we’ll be better off moving forward.’’

Olynyk, Pressey, Babb and Johnson will be trying to build off what they accomplished last season while Smart will be getting his first taste of the NBA.

Smart was used as a point guard during five practice sessions earlier this week and the Celtics will probably play him at both backcourt positions during the week in Orlando, Florida.

“I wasn’t really truly a point guard when coach (Travis) Ford recruited me (to Oklahoma State),’’ said Smart. “He was like, ‘We need a point guard, I think you can play point guard so let’s put him at point guard.’

“I’m comfortable with any of the guard spots. Whatever coach Stevens and the coaching staff needs me to play. I see myself playing more than the (point), both guard spots. It just comes down to what the team needs and what coach thinks is best.’’

Said Larranaga: “We want him to get comfortable at point guard. He and Phil will probably play together some. He and Phil are such unselfish players and having them together I think will be a good thing.’’

Olynyk, the No. 13 pick in 2013, had a strong summer league showing a year ago and offered advice to young players like Smart and Young.

“Just come in with an open mind and be ready to play and ready to work,’’ said Olynyk. “Other than that, just go out and play the game we love to play. You can’t worry too much about what’s going to happen.’’

Another player who will be getting a long look is center Colton Iverson, a second-round pick in 2013 who spent last season in Turkey. The Celtics need help in the middle and will be gauging whether Iverson is ready to play in the NBA.

The summer league team could have at least a dozen players who will wind up on the opening night roster in the fall.

“We’re young,’’ said Larranaga. “This is not maintenance right now. This is improvement time for these guys.

“There’s areas where we have to get better at, particularly at the defensive end which is where most young guys struggle.’’

The Celtics will also play the Indiana Pacers on Monday at 3 p.m. (CSN), the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CSN) and the Orlando Magic on Thursday at 5 p.m. (CSN). A fifth game will be next Friday against a team to be determined by the standings.

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.